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<br />sulfate is insufficient to shift the anion component to a sulfate type with <br />concentrations of bicarbonate and sulfate being approximately equal at TR-D. <br />The nitrite/nitrate anion component (Figure 9) closely follows the same trend <br />as sulfate, but to a much lesser extent. The most probable source of readily <br />available nitrite/nitrate at the mine is the mulch used during the <br />re vegetation process. <br />All of the detectable trace elements: iron (Figure 6), aluminum (Figure 7), <br />manganese (Figure 7), phosphorus (Figure 8) and zinc (Figure 8) show <br />consistently low values since the fall of 1981, except during the rapid snow <br />melt which occurred during 1989. At that time, a dramatic increase in each of <br />these parameters occurred upstream of TA-A with significant dilution being <br />observed at each successive monitoring point along the mine area. The <br />dilution was caused by the low concentrations of these elements in water <br />exiting from the mine. This same diluting effect is also expressed in the TSS <br />concentrations as previously mentioned. Dissolved iron and zinc also show the <br />• rising and falling trend expressed in the TDS observations with peak <br />concentrations occurring prior to the spring runoff and dilution with the <br />higher flows. All the values observed from these elements, except May, 1984, <br />are consistent with the baseline values. <br />Other trace elements: arsenic (Figure 9), selenium (Figure 9), and mercury <br />(Figure 10) have remained below detectable limits with a few exceptions <br />occurring prior to 1984. These values suggest potential contributions from <br />these elements to Trout Creek water quality from mining activities are not <br />evident. <br />The general characteristics: pH (Figure 11), electrical conductivity <br />(Figure 11), temperature (Figure 12) and dissolved oxygen (Figure 12) exhibit <br />the same trends as found during the baseline studies. Trout Creek remained <br />alkaline throughout the year with slight variations in pH occurring <br />seasonally. Electrical conductivity shows the same trend as TDS, as expected. <br />Temperature follows the seasonal trend established during baseline and <br />dissolved oxygen remains near saturation. <br /> <br />